Entry Instance

HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept

{
    "id": 238506,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/238506/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 187,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Chepkitony",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13,
        "legal_name": "Lucas Kipkosgei Chepkitony",
        "slug": "lucas-chepkitony"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, thank you for giving me this opportunity to contribute to this very important Motion. This Motion is long overdue. It is progressive and it is welcome. The public has to know what is happening. They ought to be informed. The Government belongs to the public. Information on it, should reach the public so that they can contribute and participate from an informed position. It is also a human right. It is an individual right to know what your Government is doing, because you voted for it. Therefore, you should know what it is doing, so that you can make a decision whether to re-elect it or not. All the information pertaining to Government budgets must be accessible to the public and should be free, just the way the information in the Bible is free to everybody. Everything happening in the Government must be accessible to the public. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, it is true that certain information should not be made available to everyone. That includes the intelligence information meant for the police. However, it should be mentioned in the Bill, the process through which one can get such information. The Bill should also define the period after which classified information can be made public. Information concerning scientific research and discoveries should be available through scientific journals. The information should also be available in Government research institutions. If the information can be exploited in a commercial manner to benefit the country, then it should be used, but according to the law. However, certain information concerning our security should be made accessible to the public in a cautious way. If it reaches members of the public in an objective way, people would October 18, 2006 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 3001 operate from an informed point of view. We should guard against misuse of information. Certain people or organisations may use some information for propaganda purposes to achieve selfish gains. That should be taken care of in the Bill. We cannot rule out the fact that some people would obtain certain information and use it to misinform the public. They can use it to pass the wrong message and not to give out the right information. It is true that we have freedom of the Press as a right. The Press can publish what it thinks is right, and plays an important role in enhancing democracy and informing the public. However, it should not misinform. That should be taken care of by the Bill, so that if a section of the media publishes information which is injurious, the affected party or parties can have an avenue to address the issue. We have court processes which are avenues for addressing such issues. So, that means that when we make information free to people, it will not always be used to injure other people. It will be assisting in enhancing democracy, the rule of law, good governance, allow the public to be aware of what is good for them and what is happening around them. I would like to congratulate hon. Anyang'-Nyong'o for bringing this Motion. Many countries have freedom of information and we should not lag behind the others. It is a welcome Motion and I look forward to its passing and implementation. With those remarks, I beg to support."
}